In this article we report calculations dedicated to estimate the selectivity of the Bombyx mori pheromone binding protein towards the two closely related pheromonal components Bombykol and Bombykal. The selectivity is quantified by the binding free-energy difference, obtained either by the thermodynamic integration or by the MM-GBSA approach. In the latter, the selectivity is decomposed on a per-residue basis, which identifies the residues considered crucial for the selectivity of the protein for Bombykol over Bombykal. A discussion on the role of Bombyx mori pheromone binding protein is provided on the basis of these results.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cphc.200800343 | DOI Listing |
J Sci Food Agric
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Thailand.
Background: Edible insects are used for consumption and traditional medicine due to their rich bioactive compounds. This study examined the bioactive compounds and inhibitory effects of crude extracts from Bombyx mori and Omphisa fuscidentalis on α-glucosidase, α-amylase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and tyrosinase. Fatty acids, including n-hexadecanoic acid and oleic acid, were identified in the extracts and evaluated for their inhibitory potential against the enzymes in vitro and in silico.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFoods
December 2024
Research and Development Center, Insilicogen Inc., Yongin 16954, Republic of Korea.
The increasing global population and the environmental consequences of meat consumption have led to the exploration of alternative sources of protein. Edible insects have gained attention as a sustainable and nutritionally rich meat alternative. We investigated the effects of two commonly consumed insects, larva and pupa, on beneficial gut microbiota growth, using whole 16s metagenome sequencing to assess diet-associated changes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
December 2024
Liaoning Engineering and Technology Research Center for Insect Resources, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China.
Chitin deacetylases (CDAs) are carbohydrate esterases associated with chitin metabolism and the conversion of chitin into chitosan. Studies have demonstrated that chitin deacetylation is essential for chitin organization and compactness and therefore influences the mechanical and permeability properties of chitinous structures, such as the peritrophic membrane (PM) and cuticle. In the present study, two genes ( and ) encoding CDA protein isoforms were identified and characterized in Chinese oak silkworm () larvae.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
December 2024
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA.
Biocompatible materials fabricated from natural protein polymers are an attractive alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. They offer a green, sustainable fabrication method while also opening new applications in biomedical sciences. Available from several sources in the wild and on domestic farms, silk is a widely used biopolymer and one of the strongest natural materials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Biol Macromol
January 2025
Faculty of Fiber Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan. Electronic address:
Mulberry silk (Bombyx mori) and eri silk (Samia/Philosamia ricini) are widely used silks. Eri silk is a wild silk that contains an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid tripeptide sequence within its structure, making it a potential and sustainable biomaterial. However, its poor solubility using conventional methods has resulted in limited research compared with that of mulberry silk fibroin.
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